Deseret News | Skate park advancing

Reader comments
Skate park advancing — maybe too slowly

Bob | 1:09 p.m. June 2, 2008

Maybe they should have done the planning before they got the grant.

David | 3:21 p.m. June 2, 2008

My concern with this article is that it only has the information from someone who has not been honest with the residents in Kearns. Shame on the reporter who did this article...

Mr. McDowell wants an edifice to himself in creating a skatepark. If he was in touch with the residents in Kearns he would have known that more traffic in a neighborhood with families is not a good idea. What is more important the skatepark or the safety of children? If he wants this project so much why doesn't he put it in his own backyard. We, the residents in the affected area are willing to fight the proposed changes to the soccer fields. We are not opposed to the skate park, but wonder if Mr. McDowell has our best interest at heart.

Mary of Kearns | 5:28 p.m. June 2, 2008

GIVE ME A BREAK! THE ONLY MEETINGS HELD within the community and whereby the community was invited to were 2 meetings sat up by the grant writer Cathy Harding aimed at those who skate board to help with the design of the park.
The ONLY Public meeting that has ever been held for the citizens of Kearns was held last week May 27th. It was shown to us at that time what was going to go into our community and where and we are to be happy about this. Once a gain this only goes to prove we are a COMMUNITY WITHOUT A VOICE AND WITHOUT PROPER REPERSENTATION.
Mr. McDowell would have you all believing that he has been above board on this, I guess he is if one wants to conceder the real story behind Mr. McDowell, after all he is the only I know on the face of this country who is allowed to threaten people if they go to or participated is any of these meetings held on the county level were the community as a hole was uninvited.

Comments continue below

Jane | 5:40 p.m. June 2, 2008

It is plane to see that this article was written by someone commissioned by one Chucky McDowell. And I would like to know if she had to pass this story through him before she could get it in print making sure he agreed with what was said. This article should have read ï¿½
If in todayï¿½s society tar and feathering was legal Mr. McDowell would not have been tar or feathered but lunched from the highest post. This community has had itï¿½s fill of Mr. McDowellï¿½s very cloudy honesty to his community and his past of community destruction. If something like this doesnï¿½t make it clear to the Mayor that something needs to be done with this man, we all should conceder if he deserves our vote this year, after the aiding of this mayor towards Kearns.

Charles | 6:29 p.m. June 2, 2008

I think Mr. McDowell is up in his night! We as a Community knew very little about a skate park until last week. Even after going to a couple of the council meetings trying to ask questions about this event, I had been told nothing is known at this time, he even told the crowd that the designing of the skate park was still underway. He had even made it a point to tell us that all though he had been in contact with the county they still donï¿½t know where that location would be, and I shouldnï¿½t believe all the miss information I was being told.
We are not against a skate park, BUT we are against the deception that went along with this skate park. The grant was award in 2006 and 2 years is a long time to endure continually being lied to. I agree we are a COMMUNITY WITHOUT A VOICE AND WITHOUT PROPER REPERSENTATION.

Kathy L. | 6:50 p.m. June 2, 2008

I am not really sure why Mr. McDowell has put himself in the situation of being the poor pity me trip. If he would chose to be honest with his colleagues as well as the community he wouldnï¿½t be picked on. And by all means Mr. McDowell if your going to ask a reporter to report on the issues the best you could do is be honest with them. I canï¿½t wait to see how you defend yourself with this story to the community. We now stand on the forefront of mingling the Zap Fund into one huge package which from the start was not the intentions of those who implicated in the second funding designated for up grading the park not moving soccer fields. If I remember right it was Mr. McDowell who in 2005 went about Kearns and the county saying that the Kearns Town Council was co-mingling funds. The final outcome was the Mayor closing down a working Council that listened to its community and worked together. Whatï¿½s up NOW?

SAY WAHT??? | 7:11 p.m. June 2, 2008

ï¿½The Kearns Council has regularly published notices of meetings in which the park is discussed, sent newsletters and advertised plans for the park in a community newspaper.ï¿½
People in Kearns are not uneducated and can read very well. We all speak one language and understand our neighbors very well. When you write- ï¿½Now residents in a nearby neighborhood are concerned the skate park could bring unwanted traffic through their quiet streets.ï¿½ This statement is incorrect, we have tried for months after hearing that the skate park was going in our backyard. We voiced them regularly at each and every opportunity. This concern did not happen yesterday. This was the first time we could voice our objections to the county. There were 2 meetings all to do with the design of the Skate Park, opened to those who were to use it. Great idea! But when were the other residents going to be heard about their concerns. We the tax payers never had the chance until last week to be heard. So if the County and Community Council have to go back to the drawing board they maybe well advised to pick a spokesman that is more forthcoming.

Shame shame on you | 7:26 p.m. June 2, 2008

I am sick of being told that I am being missed informed if my information dose not reflects what this council would want us to think. It is revolting that Mr. McDowellï¿½s demeanor is as such that ideaï¿½s and plans will belong to him and he takes full credit of someone else hard work and research, then tells his community it is his way or the highway.

Its time that we all let the Mayor know what we think about this so called community leader, and that the councils own bylaws band the community from asking him to leave the council. He has miss-informed the community and county his personal actions has resulted in the massive loss of money to what should have been a wonderful project if it was handled properly. Need we say moreï¿½

Rotten in Kearns | 8:21 p.m. June 2, 2008

After reading this article about the Stake Park and Chuck McDowell it has me flabbergast asking myself if indeed we live in the same community and did we attend the same meeting. So I would like to get a couple of things straight that went on in this meeting. First it was not the outspoken citizens of a near by neighborhood that is the cause of this going back to the drawing board. It was the mere deception brought about by one Chuck McDowell, his co-hearts and the county. This is a case where honesty should have prevailed to be economical with the truth and tell the truth would have gone much further than all the deceptions that this bunch has brought about on its citizenry.
They would have you believing that Mr. Gilmore of Parks & Recreation Division had made 2 presentations to the council up dating them. Ask Mr. Gilmore and he will tell you he did and he also took questions. Would you believe it wasnï¿½t until this meeting that he even realized that he was only allowed to answer the questions from the council not the public.

Kearnsey | 8:30 p.m. June 2, 2008

Reading all these comments makes me wonder if anyone on the County level will care one way or another? If so I hope we here in Kearns will hear about itï¿½

Marg | 8:34 p.m. June 2, 2008

If the story I have read in the paper, and then all these comments that I am assuming are coming from the Kearns people. I feel sorry for you getting something that it seems has been mishandled from the start. An excellent example of poor planning and mismanagement.

Al | 8:43 p.m. June 2, 2008

I am really sorry I failed to attend this meeting. Due to my personal prior obligations to my family and personal needs, attending this meeting really seemed unimportant at the time. Since I spend most of my time at the council meetings anyway resting on my elbows and totaling uninvolved in this community I see this as being active on the council. I am sorry that this community is not impressed with the bulldogging that has been done, oh well maybe next time!

Maryanne | 8:52 p.m. June 2, 2008

I think the people at Zap should re-evaluate if this grant should funnel through or not.
Itï¿½s not written anywhere that they do not have the right to ask for the money back especially if what we are lead to believe is true - the check hasnï¿½t even been written out yetï¿½.HMMMMM now how can they be spending it then on studies and designing. Me thinks this is just another story in a long line of many being told to our residents

Homer | 8:59 p.m. June 2, 2008

Seems to me that the real story lies within these comments. How can they all be saying the same thing, yet the story reflects something totally different. Either this is poor reporting or very poor investigation on a story. Was this reporter at this meeting?

Tickster | 8:51 a.m. June 3, 2008

I wonder why this reporter did not complete the story by interviewing some of the community representatives that were in attendance at the said meeting on 5/27. Your poor reporting is right in line with Chuck's poor managment and planning.

Kevin | 9:33 a.m. June 3, 2008

I seem to understand that the Kearns Community Council needs to listen to the concerns that the subdivision that is going to be affected by all the extra traffic. I am wondering why we could not realign the baseball diamonds in such a way as to create a road within the Oquirrh Park, so that we do not affect the residents in that subdivision. It is a little like the Park is our sandbox and we need to play within it. Like West Jordan they realigned a lot of things to make their park work for all their residents. We should follow their examples.

ROGER | 10:45 a.m. June 3, 2008

I TOO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT MR McDOWELLS ARTICAL ON THE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION THE REAL NOTIFICATION CAME TO
THE PEOPLE OF PARKWOOD SUBDIVION THROGH THE PARKWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM WITCH WALKED THE STREET TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED WITH TRAFFIC. THEY ARE NOT APPOSED TO THE PARK JUST THE WAY THAT YOU GET TO IT. THERE ARE OVER 400 HOMES IN THIS SUBDIVISION AND ALL WILL BE IMPACTED WITH 200 TO 300 CARS A WEEKEND ON PARKWWOD DR,LOADER ST, AND CORIEANDER ST. THESE ARE ALL FAMILEYS WITH CHILDREN AND KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE ROADS BEING USED UNTIL WE BROUGHT IT TO THEM. WE WERE TOLD A TRAFFIC STUDY WAS DONE IN NOVEMBER WHEN THE POOL IS NOT OPEN AND NONE OF THE SOCCER IS BEING PLAYED. WE THINK THIS DOES NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN. DAVID,ROGER,KENT
PARKWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM

ROGER | 11:03 a.m. June 3, 2008

THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE TWO NEW PARKING LOTS COMING OFF OF PARKWOOD DR AND LOADER ST NOT THE SKATE PARK
THAT IMPACTS PARKWOOD SUBDIVISION TO THE TWO NEW SOCCER FIELDS

mad in kearns | 12:09 p.m. June 3, 2008

its not only the traffic it the drug and crime it brings with it and people all ready do 90 through are streets ive seen kids almost get hit and the cars still drive 90 havent you seen the one in t-ville it was shut down for drugs tagging broken bottles

FED UP IN KEARNS | 2:18 p.m. June 3, 2008

It seems that at the meeting they had phony answers for everything. Who is going to patrol this activity? The Sheriffs department, we only have 2 full time deputies out here. The county said they will pay for the insurance, lighting, this will come during the second phase. Lets look at the conditions at Mountain Man park and all the things that the county said would happen 3 years ago and nothing has been done. They say our property taxï¿½s wonï¿½t go up. PLEASE ! They have to come up with ways now to cover things these grants have provided for, why the commingling of the two different grants if this isnï¿½t true. Zap always gets their money back somehow and if you donï¿½t think I am right look at your yearly property tax and see if the Zoo isnï¿½t asking for more money. Depending on the recent study that was done by the county on incorporation issues, seems to me a lot of people want to go to Taylorsville why can we wait a few more months and put the thing in Southridge Park, ha you could say it use to be in Kearns.

R.M. IN KEARNS | 2:22 p.m. June 3, 2008

I donï¿½t understand what is the big issue here? Seems to me that if we all sat down and discuses this issue we might make headway. I have worked side by side with Mr. McDowell he is a very honest man and I have a lot of respect for him. He is so, so good

The Thinker | 3:50 p.m. June 3, 2008

Me thinks this Chuck McDowell needs to find a new game plan or look for a new home. but please don't look in my community, we have enough all ready

kearns concerned parent | 3:56 p.m. June 3, 2008

IF YOU READ THESE COMMENTS THEN YOU KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF KEARNS ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH THE SNEAKINESS THAT MR. McDOWELL HAS BEEN DOING WITH THE SKATE PARK THAN BEING UP FRONT WITH THIS COMMUNITY. I FEEL WE DON'T OPPOSE THE SKATE PARK BUT THE WAY THE TOWN COUNCIL IS TRYING TO SNEAK IT BY US. FOR INSTANCE NOBODY IS EVEN DISCUSSING RESTROOMS, SAFETY ISSUES, OR HOW THE TRAFFIC IS GOING TO ENTER THIS AREA WHERE THE SOCCER FIELD IS BEING MOVED. MAYBE IF THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO DISCUSS THIS THE COMMUNITY WOULD BE WILLING TO LISTEN TO THIER PURPOSAL

JC | 10:16 p.m. June 3, 2008

I am informed, educated, can read and live in the "Effected" neighborhood. I attend community meetings and use my voice, I fume at the words McDowell speaks with a twisted tongue. To have "achoate" report on a meeting they did not attend, airing only the views of McDowell is infuriating, shame on reporting. I do not have sour grapes but do not pee on my leg and tell me it is raining. There hasn't been communication to the community, if there had been honest communication then we would not be in an uproar at this juncture. The plans are only tentative and my concerns are not valid, both statements made by McDowell. If they are tentative there is no drawing board to return to, we are STILL there. Honesty with and input from the local community as well local businesses would have brought much better and quicker results. There are other options for traffic, let's try to make something that will work for all. HONEST COMMUNICATION is what is called for. The reporter on this has done a great disservice for the voting citizens of this area - Please Report ALL the facts!! Talk to ALL the sides involved.

Fed up | 11:05 p.m. June 3, 2008

kearns concerned parent, your absolutely right. However the safety issues were talked about during this meeting and the county only learned of more issues that were or had been misrepresented to them. This skate park just happens to be one of many items that has been misrepresented to the county and the community. But then since we are stuck with a character like Mr. McDowell we shouldnï¿½t expect anything more than this, but as a resident of Kearns and a citizen of the county I think we should demand more from the county than dumping this character on us the way they did and then to sit in their ivory towers and pretend that the problem is ours and not theirs. When this council has been allowed to write their own self serving bylaws, and have continued to be self serving then Kearns as a whole is in trouble. You can rest assured that the Mayor is well aware of this problem and has refused to address the issue. We all should be writing the mayor asking him why he refuses to deal with these issues of misrepresentation, we as a community has had our voices silenced long enough.

kent | 9:52 a.m. June 4, 2008

First of all, we are not concerned about traffic created by the skate park. It's the parking lots for the new location of soccer fields and the 100 plus stalls parking lots stuck in the middle of our neighborhood. For example, on Parkwood drive the plan shows a 110 stall parking lot, so thats around 100 cars in and then another 100 cars out every game, three days a week and multiple games each day on weekends every summer. That is a hell of a lot of traffic for this quiet little cul-de-sac lot I purchased to raise my family in and as far as Mr.McDowels comments about these so called well publicized meetings and design plans, we would have expressed our concerns two years ago if you would have made it known to us any earlier. My neighbor and I stumbled across this plan of yours after a council meeting in April and we have notified the citizens of Parkwood, which none of them had prior knowledge of your plans. We are not idiots, so don't treat us like we are, enough mud slinging. Let's all work together to make these upgrades to the community possitive for every one.

Kearns Resident | 10:04 a.m. June 4, 2008

I went to the meeting on May 27th and was very disappointed in how everything was handled. It appeared that the open house was set up to tell us what was going to be done. The problem is that the no one wanted to answer my questions. When I asked questions, I was sent to someone else. The meeting was a sham! No one wanted to listen to our concerns honestly answer our questions. Many of us, many more than a dozen left angry and frusterated that our voices weren't being heard. I also found it quite interesting that many of the propsed changes to the relocated soccer fields and parking lots were only partially on county property. Can someone tell me what they plan on doing to the property owner they plan on expanding to.
It is obvious in seeing the maps that there is many other alternative ideas that would not involve turning a neighborhood into a throughfare.

Kearns Resident # 29421 | 10:30 p.m. June 4, 2008

You would think they would want to honor the late Senator Ed Mayne and put the skate park down his street. The street that is right off of 4800 W. Widen it a little, and there is already plenty of parking available. Then it wouldn't have to go through a little neighborhood. But then logic isn't present with what we are dealing with here.

Chuck McDowell | 4:24 p.m. June 8, 2008

Unlike some; I am happy to identify myself.

I would like to thank "R.M. in Kearns" for that persons kind and balnced words and reasoning.

I also respect a couple people who posted here (David and Roger for instance)for what I think is their sincere concern for their neighborhood. I hope they will be part of the solution and not part of the problem. So far I would say they have some legitimate concerns.

The rest of the comments here are the ramblings of one or two individuals that have posted multiple times to try to make it look like like there is broad discontent with me personally and with this project in general. I feel sorry for this person (persons). I know who we are dealing with here and is us just kind of sad.

I know that the majority of the citizens of Kearns are good, hard working reasonable people and that they will weigh in on this in the best interests of the whole community. I can't concern myself with the others.

We will continue to work through this until we come to resolution.

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